Fuel feeding tank



July 12, 1932- J. SCHEMINGER. JR

FUEL FEEDING TANK Filed March 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Il Il lll/11111111Illu/1111111 July l2, 1932- J. SCHEMINGER, JR

FUEL FEEDING TANK Filed March 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27`g if. 25

j" @ml Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN SCHEMINGER, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND FUEL FEEDIN'G- TANK Appiication filed March 1s, 1930. serial No. 436,851.

This invention relates to fuel supply con-` tainers for liquid-burning heaters and cooking-stoves such as used particularly in rural districts and homes without piped gas sup- 5 ply, and aims to provide an improved fireproof feeding means or reservoir tank of liberal cap-acity which will have the approval of lire inspectors and insurance underwrit-.

Fig. 5 sectionally shows a detail of as-` "25 sembly and strainer connection on enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of associated pump construction.

In the illustrative embodiment, an outer 30' main container 8 provides the reservoir space of a strong and fire-proof tank construction.

This container formed on rectangular lines with rounded corners is characterized by its narrow width in proportion to greater length and depth (or height) adaptingit to fit into narrow corners or spaces behind stoves as shown in Fig. l, and yet to hold a substantial amount of liquid. It is advantageously made from a thin sheet material bent or rolled into seams and possibility of leakage.

The tank bottom is formed by a marginally flanged plate 9 fitting closely overl thel lower end of said container and welded permanently thereto as an integral part. This plate may be of the same material as the container and reinforces the latters walls besides adding rigidity to the entire construction, To positively assure against bottom mdeakage, the crevice between the container shape and wel ded at joint points to eliminate wall and plate flange is filled entirely around with a molten substance suoli as solder, as indicated at '8, which hardens onV cooling, with the` eect of fusing intothe metal of the two. t

Rest-pieces on which the tank stands above the floor are provided by legs l0 affixed rigidly to the bottom plate by interlitting lugf. engagement therewith, as represented, or by bolting orwelding thereonto.

At the upper end of the aforesaid container is an inner and. relatively small auxiliary container 11 providing the supply space of the tank. This auxiliary container formed also on rectangular lines is longer than wide or deep and fits lengthwise and edge-toedge within the first one by a three-sided contact therewith, leaving a gap g between the walls of the two at the fourth side (or end) for a reason to presently appear. f A

Said inner container which is desirably of the saine material as the outer one has its( walls l1a formed to recede gradually from the oppositive or surrounding walls 8a of said outer'contai'ner at three sides or at one side jand both ends in this instance) as shown iiiv Figs. 2 and 3, but to lie closely against or vparallel with the opposite wall thereof at the fourth side as seen from Fig. 3. It is weldedV to the outer container along the three sides of contact` therewith so as to make the two substantially integral structures, while its suspension within the outer one is advantageously strengthened by hook-straps 12 (see Fig. 2) engaged under edges of punch-outs 1lb therein and over the top edge of said outer one at their contacting sides. These punchouts in saidvinner containerprovide open ings for air-relief and overiiow back into the' outer container if the liquid is pumped thereinto above a predetermined level. Y

At thel side where the walls of the two containers lie together orV parallel, is an outlet conn-ection embodying a strainer through which liquid may-flow by gravity from the inner container. This connection comprises a hollow casting or body 13" (see Fig. 5) hav-V ing a threaded nipple 13a extending into the inner container through alined holes in the wall'sof thetwo at the aforesaid side. These walls are clamped tightly between a peripheral shoulder 13b and a collar member or washer 14 on the aforesaid nipple of the cast= ing when the latter is drawnup by nuts 15 screwedY onto the nipple. One of said nuts with underlying lock-washer serves to prevent loosening of the other and gasket washers 16 between and at opposite sides of the container walls effectually seal the joint against leakage and also relievev strain of the connection. This connection not only binds the two containersrigidly together; but strengthens the union between the two.

The central portion ofthe aforesaid ycasting (13) has ani-enlarged bore providing a chamber 13C into which the nipple at fone end opens. Through an enlarged opening at the other end is extended a. perforate tubular member or spider 17 carried as the shank of a plug 18 screwed into said opening and formed with a winged head for greater ease in turning. This perforate member or spider has a strainer screen covering as represented, and is supported at its inner end by 'a vhead 17 a seated in a recess coaXially with the bore through the nipple, so that liquid draining through the latter must pass into the member and lthrough the strainer screen before entering the aforesaid chamber 180. A pipe 19 leading from saidchamber connects vdirectly or indirectly with the burners of the stove, or more specifically with the wells of the burners for keeping their wicks saturated by continuous drainage fromV the inner con# tainer'of the tank. A valve-cock 19'nl in said pipe serves to cut olf thesupply whende-y Vburners as common to devices of this kind.`

The fioat chamber moreover may be made adjustable up and down in a bracket on the tank according tothe level of the burners or their wells. In such case the pipe 19 should of course be flexible from its connection with the float chamber to its connection at 18 with the tank. Y

The tank top is provided by a marginally flanged top-plate 20 corresponding with the aforementioned bottom plate, which is fitted over the upper end of the outer container and similarly welded thereto. Like said bottom plate, it is sealed by a molten substance s fill# ing the crevice of its flange engagement over ythe outer container all thel way around and reinforces' the walls ofthe container besides adding rigidity to the entire construction.

Through the gap g between the inner and outer containers,a pump barrel-21 extends down into the latter. vThe lower end of this barrel is normally closed by a common trapvalvel 22 inv this instance comprising a flex-l ibl disk secured by bolt on the bottom ring.

cap. A suction plunger 23 carried by pump rod 24 operates in the barrel to draw liquid upwardly therethrough to discharge into the inner container, for which .purpose a spoutv mining the amount of liquid in or necessary to fill said outer container, while a sealed.

sightgau'ge 29 in the aforesaid top plate enables the liquid depth in the inner container to be ascertained at a glance.

In this instance the inner or supply con-4v tainer holds approximately four gallons fof."

fuel up to its overflow level, while `the outer and'reserve-container holds sixteen gallons,` so that the tank has a'total capacity of twenty gallons.y It will be noted that theinner con-AV tainer is partly submerged in the liquid of? the outer one when the latter is full, leaving an air space above and Athereby utilizing the cubical capacity of the combined containers. to the best possible advantage.

A novel'and improved fuel supply tank of' unusually strong and absolutely i'ireproof' construction is thus provided withY distinct advantages over the Vvarious kinds of containers now in general use. As distinguished` from the ordinary supply container, its solidv and leak-proof construction enables it tov be! placed with perfect'safety behind or vclose toV a. heated stove without incurringfa fire hazard. Its distinctions and other advantages overrelated devices will be readily appreciated by comparison.

As various modifications withA Vminor changes in details. of construction andar-V rangement of parftsrinay be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, the appended claims are not intended to limit the sameto the specific con-` struction shown.

Having thus described my invention, whatA I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A fueltank embodying a main rectangular container of substantially greater depth and length than breadth providing a reser-V voir space anda relatively small also rectan'v gular container in the upperfend thereof providing a supply space, said-small or inner container fittingY in' the main container with a three-side contact andhaving walls recedgether along their top edges, `and havinga .common top closure" plate overextending their uppeigends and secured to the main or outer one thereof in al sealed union, a gauge" roo iris

for determining the liquid level in the small tank; a pump for lling said small container from the larger main one, an opening for filling said main container, a gravity-feed connection with the inner container passing through the outer container and having means therein for straining the fuel in feed flow; and a cut-off valve in said feed connection.

2. A fuel tank comprising an outer openended rectangular container having restmembers, a relatively small inner and likewise open-ended container fitting within said outer container with its walls receding gradually from the walls of the other at three sides but lying thereagainst at the fourth side and in effect providing a substantial closure therefor, the two containers being secured together as integral structures; a cover plate fitting over the open ends o-f both containers and sealed to the outer' thereof; a sight-gauge in said cover plate; a. gravityfeed connection with the inner container passing through the outer container at the side Where walls of the two lie together and having a strainer element therein; a pump eX- tending thro-ugh said cover pla-te into the outer container and discharging into the inner container for filling the latter from the former; an opening through said plate Vfor filling the outer container; and a depthgauge suspended from a closure cap fo-r said opening.

8. A fuel tank comprising a main rectangular container of substantially greater depth and length than breadth having a bottom overengaging and reinforcing its walls with rest-members afiiXed thereto; a relatively small container fitted in the open upper end of said main container with its edges flush with those of the latter and substantially closing said end thereof, said small container having its walls receding gradually from the surrounding walls of the main container at three sides but lying thereagainst at the fourth side and the two containers formed of sheet metal being joined together as integral structures; a cover-plate fitting over the upper end of the main container and joined thereto with reinforcing effect; a sight-gauge in said cover-plate for determining the liquid content of the inner container; a combined gravity-feed outlet and strainer connection with the inner container passing through the main container at the side where walls of the two lie together; a pump extending through said cover-plate down into the main container and discharging into the inner container; an opening through said coverplate for filling the main container; and a depth-gauge secured to a closure cap for said opening for determining the liquid depth in the main container. Y

4. A fuel tank according to claim l wherein the two containers and the top cover there- 5;. A fuel tank comprising an outer main rectangular 'container having a bottom formed` by a plate with marginal flangefitting thereover and sealed against leakage by a hardened molten substance` filling the crevice therearound; -a relatively small and likewise rectangular container of sheet metal supported therewithin at the upper end in a three-sided fit with edges flush to the edges thereof and leaving a gap, between walls of the two at one side, said small or inner container havingV its walls gradually receding from the surrounding walls of the main container at three sides but lying thereagainst at the fourth side and the two containers being welded together as integral structures, a top-plate having a marginal flange engaging over the upper end of the main container and sealed against leakage by a hardened molten substance filling the crevice therearound; a

sight-gauge in said top-plate for determinf ing liquid level within the inner container; a force pump extending downwardly into the main container through the aforesaid gap between it and theinner container for filling vthe` latter therefrom; a capped filler-opening ad]acent said pump for refilling the main container; and an outlet connection with said inner container passing through the wall of the main container at the side where the walls of the two lie together, said connection serving to rigidly bind the two containers and to strengthen their union with each other.

6. In a fuel tank embodying an outer reserve container and an inner supply container and having hand-operable means for llingV` the latter from the former; a combined drain outlet and strainer connection comprising a hollow casing extending into said inner container through the wall of the outer one with the walls of the two clamped between a peripheral shoulder thereof and a collarmember on one end, a perforate hollow member extending through an enlarged central chamber of said casing in alinement with the opening therethrough and having a strainerscreen covering through which liquid iowing from the inner container must pass before entering said chamber, a feed pipe leading'from said chamber, and a plug closing the outer end of said casing and carrying said perforate hollow member.

7 A fuel tank comprising an outer main rectangular container having a bottom formed by a plate with marginal fiange fitting thereover and sealed against leakage by a hardened molten substance filling the crevice therearound; a relatively small and likewise rectangular container of sheet metal supported therewithin at the upper end in a three-sided Vfit with edges flush to the edges`l loo ross

thereof and leaving a gap between walls of the two at one side, said small or inner container having its-'walls gradually receding t from the surrounding walls of the main con- E tainer at three sides but lying thereagainst -at theffou'rth side and the two containers being Welded together as integral structures, and a top-plate having a marginal flange engaging over the upper end of the main con- 170 tainer and sealed against,r leakage by a hardened molten substance filling kthe crevice therearound. y VIn testimony whereof I ax my signature.

1,5 JOHN SCHEMINGER, JR. 

